Archive for September, 2009

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Sure Nurses Are Honest, But They’re Also Highly Skilled Professionals

September 2, 2009

By Peggy McDaniel, BSN, RN 

As you may have heard last November, in 2008 (for the seventh consecutive year) nurses topped Gallup’s Honesty and Ethics of Professions survey.

GallupNursesScreenshot
As a profession we are considered the most ethical and honest—but are we also considered intelligent and efficient? Does the patient in the bed realize her or his safety depends on your critical thinking skills, learned in nursing school and honed at the bedside?

Why are engineering and similar professions seen as the fields with all the thinkers? Why doesn’t the public understand what nurses really do?

Public perception is based on many factors. Some are within our control as nurses, and some are not. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in ethical issues, media depictions of nursing, nursing perspective, professional identity | 2 Comments »

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September Is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

September 1, 2009

By Jim Stubenrauch, senior editor

OvarianCancerArticleThis month, AJN is joining in the nationwide effort to raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer. The September issue contains an original research paper on “Women’s Awareness of Ovarian Cancer Risks and Symptoms” by Suzy Lockwood-Rayermann, PhD, MSN, RN, and colleagues. The authors analyzed data collected from an online survey completed by more than 1,200 women ages 40 and older and found that awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms and risk factors is low. This suggests that nurses have an excellent opportunity to educate patients and help them get diagnosed at earlier stages of the disease when it’s more treatable.

You can also hear an interview I conducted with Dr. Lockwood-Rayermann on our podcasts page.

I’ll summarize the study below, but first, you might want to know that cancer survivor, actress, and women’s health activist Fran Drescher wrote on a related topic in this month’s Viewpoint, “Women, Take Control of Your Bodies!” Drescher discusses her battle with uterine cancer and the crucial support her sister Nadine, a nurse, provided on her “medical oddysey.” After writing a book about her experience, Cancer Schmancer, Drescher started the Cancer Schmancer Movement, an organization dedicated to promoting education, legislation, and social reform aimed at early detection of cancer. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in nursing research | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

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